Bradford Council has come under fire for leaving the grass to grow out of control to knee-deep level at a historic cemetery with Bronte links.

Church warden Steven Stanworth said the Council had neglected its duties in relation to the Old Bell Chapel, also known as the Bronte Bell Chapel, opposite St James’s Church on Thornton Road, Thornton, by leaving the grass to grow so long.

Mr Stanworth, also the chairman of The Bronte Birthplace Trust, said that cutbacks were being blamed, but said the problem had left him having to help people trace their ancestors headstones by trekking through extra-long grass and showing people around was becoming embarrassing.

It is a further blow to the church after thieves desecrated it by uprooting and stealing three ancient headstones which have been there for the last 200 years last October.

Mr Stanworth said: “They have cut it twice this year and I have been told that it will be cut on a three week cycle at best because resources have been cut.

“It is just not good enough. The Council said if it is raining on that day, it could be six weeks before it is cut.

“Last year they cut it every two weeks and I cut my own grass twice a week.

“It is ridiculous, the cemetery looks unkempt. It affects the work we are doing trying to keep the graves tidy so people can visit.

“People are wading in knee deep grass and it looks unsafe and untidy.

“We are trying to make it a tourist destination as the Bronte birthplace which we want to promote.

“I had someone from London visiting on Sunday and they had to walk through the long grass and it is just not on.

“This Government talks about the Big Society and volunteering and that is fine, and we have been volunteering for 12 years, but you expect the powers that be to do what they are obligated to do.

“I am appalled and disgusted because it is supposed to be part of Thornton in Bloom.”

The problem comes just months after “inexcusable” fly-tipping and general waste was being dumped at Scholemoor Cemetery with a The Friends of Scholemoor Cemetery now set up to tackle that problem.

They meet today after bereaved families were faced with dumped materials on pathways – including car parts, mattresses and household materials used for home improvements – when they go to visit their loved ones.

On the Old Bell Chapel issue, Phil Barker, Bradford Council’s assistant director for sport and leisure, said: “We have explained the situation fully to the Bell Chapel volunteers that for the past three years the frequency of cuts is ten times per year across the majority of our cemeteries and parks, which is approximately every three weeks, subject to weather.

“We are due to cut the grass in the cemetery again at the Bell Chapel this week.”